102 BATKACHOSPEKME^. 



Draparnaud, and that skilful naturalist approved of it. 

 Roth, and after him Vaucher and Decandolle, have adopted it, 

 with the trivial name of Weiss, which has become general." 



The Batrachosperms are highly flexible and mucous to the 

 touch, their lubricity arising in a measure from the presence 

 of innumerable lashes or cilia, terminating the branches, 

 which add also infinitely to the microscopic beauty of these 

 productions. Vaucher entertained the idea that they were to 

 be regarded as the stamina of the plant, and that they were 

 filled with a fecundating powder. This opinion would 

 appear to be mere conjecture, the only fact in support of 

 it being the deciduous character of the organs. Each 

 cilium is articulated in a manner similar to that of the 

 branches, of which they may be regarded as extensions. 



The species of this genus inhabit mostly pure and run- 

 ning waters, being usually met with in fountains, wells, and 

 streams, the force of which is not considerable. They are 

 so exceedingly flexible, that they obey the slightest motion 

 of the fluid which surrounds them, and would seem almost 

 to be endowed with vitality; nothing can surpass the ease 

 and grace of their movements. When removed from the 

 water they lose all form, and appear like pieces of jelly, 

 without trace of organization, on immersion however the 

 branches again quickly resume their former disposition. They 

 adhere strongly to paper, and in drying frequently change 

 to some other tint, usually much deeper ; on being moistened 

 after long intervals, they recover much of their original 

 freshness ; and it is even asserted that, after having lain 

 in the herbarium for some years, when they are replaced in 

 water in a suitable locality, that they will vegetate as before. 



The manner in which the glomerules are developed does 

 not seem to be well understood * ; each would appear to be 

 compounded of numerous cells, all having a single and 

 common attachment to the parent plant by means of a single 

 and slender thread ; from which they, when mature, separate, 



* In the earliest period of their development they would appear to be 

 minute excrescences growing out of the walls of the cells, from which 

 finally they become entirely separated in most of the species of the genus, 

 but not in all, as in B. atmm. 



